Jean Shepherd News

As the grand finale to their spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 Season, Theatre at the Center presents the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story, running November 19 through December 27, with a press opening on Sunday, November 22 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Based on the award-winning film, the play by Phil Grecian tells the story of Ralphie Parker, who longs for a genuine Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The source material for the film was the warm and hilarious story collection In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by local Hammond, Indiana native Jean Shepherd. The holiday classic will be directed by Jeff Award-winner Linda Fortunato (Monty Python's Spamalot, A Christmas Carol, 42nd Street at Theatre at the Center).

Fort Wayne Civic Theatre presents A CHRISTMAS STORY - THE MUSICAL at Arts United Center, November 7-22, 2015.

The Center for the Arts is pleased to announce its 2016 Season - a 'Season of Celebration' as the company celebrates its 20th Anniversary. The season is comprised of eight Main Stage shows and three Gallery shows.

Nashville Repertory Theatre is ready to get the 2015-16 season underway. And what better way to start things off than with a party at Emma Bistro tonight, August 20, 2015.

Families, set your holiday entertainment dials for excitement, because Chicago musical theater powerhouse, the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, is turning one of the most iconic holiday movies ever made into a larger-than-life musical blockbuster, November 25-January 3.

Nashville Repertory Theatre is ready to get the 2015-16 season underway. And what better way to start things off than with a party at Emma Bistro on August 20, 2015.

Single tickets are on sale now for Nashville Repertory Theatre's 2015-16 season. Producing Artistic Director Rene D. Copeland notes that the season will include, 'a hot Pulitzer Prize-nominated contemporary play, a famous classic, the world premiere of a new play, and a great American musical.'

Nashville Repertory Theatre is proud to announce its 2015-16 season. Producing Artistic Director Rene D. Copeland notes that the season will include, 'a hot Pulitzer Prize-nominated contemporary play, a famous classic, the world premiere of a new play, and a great American musical.'

Nashville Repertory Theatre's 2015-16 season includes "a hot Pulitzer Prize-nominated contemporary play, a famous classic, the world premiere of a new play, and a great American musical," according to producing artistic director Rene Dunshee Copeland.

The Nation's first professional regional theatre, Cleveland Play House (CPH), proudly announces the highly-anticipated lineup of shows in its record-breaking 100th Anniversary Season, under Artistic Director Laura Kepley.

I'd heard of Jean Shepherd's work as an author when I was younger, but my first true exposure to him came in 1983 in a tiny, and mostly empty, movie theater where I sat and watched director Bob Clark's wonderful valentine to the late 1930's and early 1940's, A Christmas Story. I've since seen it go from sleeper to television staple, then to the stage in a theatrical version, and now I've had the opportunity to view it as a musical. I must say, this endearingly hilarious account of young Ralphie Parker and his quest to own a Red Ryder BB Gun (here essayed by either Evan Gray and Colton Maurer, with Cal Alexander as younger brother, Randy) is still funny to me all these years later. The musical, which is currently playing the Fabulous Fox Theatre, is a twinkling Christmas delight, with pleasant and lively numbers that aim to enhance key moments that you'll recall from the original. This is fun for the whole family, and my son and I had a terrific time.

This holiday season, for the first time in St. Louis, one of America's favorite Christmas movies comes to life live- on-stage in a hilarious, large scale Broadway musical, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre tonight, December 16 - January 4.

Little did I realize as I stood many years ago, as an extra, in front of Higbee's Department Store in downtown Cleveland at 3 AM, that I was participating in the filming of what would become one of the most popular winter holiday movies of all times.

When the musical adaptation of "A Christmas Story" first came to the 5th Avenue Theatre back in 2010 for the pre-Broadway Premiere I was dubious at best. And my fears turned out to be well founded as the musical felt scattered and lacked the emotional core that the original story and movie had. Luckily for all of us when the show went on to New York it was retooled to trim out all the fat and now that it's back has had its heart restored with direction by Brandon Ivie. So what once felt like a desperate attempt to turn a holiday classic into a cash cow now feels like a delightful homage to the original and a simpler time.

St Petersburg City Theatre continues their 90th Mainstage Season, presented by Raymond James, with Philip Grecian's A CHRISTMAS STORY. City Theatre will be collecting canned goods, toiletries, and child-friendly non-perishable foods in the lobby to support YWCA Tampa Bay's Family Village at every performance of A CHRISTMAS STORY.

The Rose Theater triple-dog-dares you to see its holiday production of A Christmas Story: The Musical, playing tonight, Dec. 5-28. The fun-filled musical adaptation of the classic Yuletide film offers a stocking full of good, old-fashioned laughs sure to please the entire family.

Bring the whole family to the hilarious American classic, 'A Christmas Story,' which opens at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley tonight, Dec. 5 and includes live audience participation!

St. Paul's Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is returning to its tradition of an original and (mostly) locally cast production during holidays, rather than the touring productions that often come through. In fact, the last Ordway Original holiday production was 2011's CINDERELLA. This year's production of the new musical based on the cult holiday movie A CHRISTMAS STORY is worth the wait. I am usually skeptical of movies turned into musicals, because often it doesn't work or it just simply isn't necessary. But I saw a preview of A Christmas Story (which officially opens on Friday and runs through December 28) last night and was pleasantly surprised; I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. In fact I loved pretty much every minute of it. The creators did a wonderful job of retaining the movie's unique tone of humor, silliness, and nostalgia while creating something new that stands on its own merits, whether you're a fan of the movie or not. And best of all, director James Rocco and his team have created a wonderful production that showcases some of the Twin Cities' finest talent, as well as giving a chance for talented local youngsters to play and shine on stage. The Ordway's A CHRISTMAS STORY is a wonderful, fun, extravagant, poignant, top-notch production of a new musical based on a beloved classic.

"You'll shoot your eye out!" Instead of watching the nostalgic Christmas movie during another 24 hour movie marathon, see A Christmas Story: The Musical live on stage at the Old Opera House in Charles Town, WV, opening December 4.